A family-run logistics company has marked its 50th anniversary following its recovery from the outbreak.

Wimbledon-based ELB Partners celebrated on a cruise along the River Thames on September 5.

ELB was set up by George Eason in 1970 and later taken on by his sons, Peter and Stephen, before Peter took full ownership of the firm at the end of last year.

It was established as a newspaper distributor and was the exclusive foreign newspaper and magazine daily delivery service for The Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune and all of its associated titles.

George Eason died in 2018 and his son Peter, ELB’s managing director, said the occasion was the perfect opportunity to remember his dad.

He said: “It was great to finally get the go-ahead to celebrate our milestone year.

"We had lots planned for 2020 which we’ve had to put on hold and this is the first thing we’ve been able to do.

“It was a brilliant night.

Wimbledon Times:

"We had staff, friends, partners and customers all as one, celebrating 50 years of excellence in London.

" I am so proud of my team, friends, partners and everybody involved in the last half century.

“I couldn’t let the occasion pass without raising a glass to our founder and my dad, George, who would have been very proud of how the company is continuing to grow.”

Like many companies, ELB was hit by a drop in business during the early part of lockdown but it has recovered well and is now seeing volumes exceed pre-lockdown figures, thanks to an increase in home deliveries.

Nigel Parkes, founder and managing director of Pallet-Track, said: “ELB is a true family success story and its 50th birthday celebrations are very much deserved.

“To survive and thrive for this length of time in an industry as competitive as ours is testament to the levels of service it has provided over those five decades.”

For more information visit www.elbpartners.com.